Nicotinic Acid
Vitamins
Nutritional Enhancers
59-67-6
C₆H₅NO₂
$7.45 ~ $11.18
Food
Free sample from 100g(NF)
One unit of:25kg/barrel
One unit of:25kg/barrel
25kg/barrel
Product Info
What is Nicotinic Acid?
Nicotinic acid is the chemical name for Vitamin B3, or Niacin, which is widely used as a nutritional supplement, food fortifier, and pharmaceutical agent for managing lipid disorders.
How is Nicotinic Acid made?
| Step No. | Production Stage | Key Action | Control Point & Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raw Material Preparation | Charge 3-methylpyridine (also known as beta-picoline) and a solvent (e.g., water) into a glass-lined or stainless steel reactor. | Purity and precise quantity of raw materials are critical. Impurities in the starting material can carry through to the final product or cause unwanted side reactions. |
| 2 | Oxidation Reaction | Introduce an oxidizing agent (e.g., nitric acid, or air with a catalyst) into the reactor. Heat the mixture under pressure to initiate the oxidation of the methyl group on the pyridine ring. | This is a highly exothermic reaction. Strict control of temperature and pressure is essential for safety, yield, and to prevent over-oxidation. The feed rate of the oxidant is a key control parameter. |
| 3 | Isolation & Neutralization | Cool the reaction mass. Carefully neutralize the acidic mixture with a base (e.g., sodium hydroxide) to a specific pH near the isoelectric point of nicotinic acid. | The final pH is crucial for maximizing the precipitation of crude nicotinic acid. Slow, controlled neutralization prevents localized overheating and ensures proper crystal formation. |
| 4 | Purification & Decolorization | Filter the crude product and redissolve it in hot deionized water. Add activated carbon to adsorb colored impurities, then filter the hot solution to remove the carbon. | The amount of activated carbon and contact time must be sufficient to meet final product color specifications without adsorbing a significant amount of the product itself. |
| 5 | Crystallization | Allow the hot, purified solution to cool slowly. Pure nicotinic acid crystals will form as the solution's temperature drops and solubility decreases. | The cooling rate directly impacts crystal size and purity. Slower cooling generally results in larger, purer crystals. The final temperature determines the crystallization yield. |
| 6 | Filtration & Drying | Separate the pure nicotinic acid crystals from the mother liquor using a centrifuge or filter. Dry the resulting wet cake in a vacuum dryer until the moisture content is below the specified limit. | The drying temperature and vacuum level must be controlled to prevent product degradation or discoloration. Final moisture content (e.g., <1.0%) is a critical quality attribute for stability. |
| 7 | Milling & Sieving | Mill the dried product to achieve a consistent and specified particle size distribution. Sieve the powder to ensure uniformity and remove any agglomerates. | Particle size distribution is a key parameter for applications in pharmaceuticals and food, affecting dissolution rate and blend uniformity. Sieve integrity must be checked regularly. |
| 8 | Quality Control & Packaging | Take a representative sample of the final batch for full analysis (e.g., Assay by HPLC, Purity, Heavy Metals, Residual Solvents) against pharmacopeial standards (USP/EP). | Product must meet all pre-defined specifications before release. Packaging is done in sealed, multi-layered bags or drums to protect from moisture, light, and contamination during storage. |
Technical Specifications
| CAS Number | 59-67-6 |
| Chemical Formula | C₆H₅NO₂ |
| Solubility | 18 g/L at 20 °C; easily soluble in hot water, hot ethanol, alkaline water, propylene glycol; insoluble in ether |
| Storage Conditions | Store in cool, dry place away from light |
| Shelf Life | 24 Months |
Applications & Usage
Common Applications:
Food fortification
dietary supplement
pharmaceutical lipid-lowering agent
Mechanism of action:
| Parameter | Nicotinic Acid |
|---|---|
| Functional Category | Color Stabilizer; Nutrient Fortificant (Vitamin B3) |
| Key Ingredients | Nicotinic Acid (Pyridine-3-carboxylic acid) |
| Mechanism of Action | Coordinates with the central iron atom of the heme group in myoglobin, forming a stable, heat-resistant nicotinamide-hemochrome complex. This complex is less susceptible to oxidation than nitrosylmyoglobin, preventing the formation of brown metmyoglobin and preserving a bright red/pink color. As a nutrient, it is a precursor for the coenzymes NAD+ and NADP+. |
| Application Effect in Product | Maintains a stable and appealing pink-red color in cured meat and poultry products during thermal processing and shelf life. Prevents undesirable graying or browning. Enriches food products with Vitamin B3 to meet nutritional targets and labeling claims. |
Comparison:
| Product Name | Category/Type | Key Features | Strengths (vs peers) | Weaknesses (vs peers) | Best Use Cases | Why Choose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicotinic Acid | Vitamin B3 / Lipid-Lowering Agent | Decreases VLDL production, lowering LDL and triglycerides (TG); significantly raises HDL. | Most potent agent available for raising HDL cholesterol; also lowers TG effectively. Inexpensive. | Common and uncomfortable flushing side effect; can increase blood sugar and uric acid; risk of liver toxicity. | Patients with very low HDL and high triglycerides, often as an add-on to other therapies. | To specifically and aggressively raise low HDL levels when this is a primary treatment goal. |
| Atorvastatin | HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) | Inhibits cholesterol synthesis in the liver, powerfully lowering LDL cholesterol. | Gold standard for LDL reduction; extensive data showing reduction in heart attacks and strokes. | Modest effect on HDL and TG; potential for muscle pain (myalgia); requires liver enzyme monitoring. | First-line treatment for the vast majority of patients with high LDL cholesterol. | For powerful, proven LDL reduction to decrease overall cardiovascular risk. |
| Fenofibrate | Fibrate | Activates PPAR-alpha to increase fat breakdown, primarily lowering triglycerides. | Highly effective at lowering very high triglyceride levels; moderately raises HDL. | Minimal or variable effect on LDL; risk of muscle problems increases when combined with statins. | Patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia to reduce risk of pancreatitis. | When the primary goal is potent triglyceride lowering. |
| Ezetimibe | Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitor | Prevents cholesterol absorption from the intestine, lowering blood LDL levels. | Excellent safety profile with few systemic side effects; works well in combination with statins. | Only provides moderate (15-20%) LDL reduction when used alone; no significant effect on HDL or TG. | As an add-on to a statin for further LDL lowering, or for patients who cannot tolerate statins. | To achieve additional LDL reduction with minimal side effect risk. |
| Evolocumab | PCSK9 Inhibitor | Monoclonal antibody that increases liver clearance of LDL from the blood. | Extremely potent LDL reduction (50-60%+), far more than oral agents. | Very high cost; requires self-injection every 2-4 weeks; not a first-line therapy. | Patients with genetic high cholesterol (FH) or those at very high risk who fail to reach LDL goals on oral therapy. | For maximal LDL lowering when oral medications are insufficient. |
| Icosapent ethyl | Prescription Omega-3 Fatty Acid | Highly purified EPA ethyl ester that reduces hepatic triglyceride production. | Effectively lowers triglycerides without raising LDL; proven to reduce cardiovascular events in high-risk patients on statins. | No significant effect on LDL or HDL; small increased risk of bleeding and atrial fibrillation. | Add-on therapy for high-risk patients with persistent high triglycerides despite statin treatment. | For evidence-based triglyceride reduction and secondary cardiovascular risk reduction. |
Technical Documents
Available Documentation
Technical datasheet, COA
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
SDS available
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Quality assurance documentation
Technical Data Sheet
Detailed technical specifications